full

“Fireside Meeting at the Cumuliform Arches” by Friends of the Fireplace

Today’s story is a collaborative piece with contributions by Partvoid, who still doesn’t know what to say about themselves, Pico, who hopes to write much more over the coming months, and whose upcoming stories can be found on FurAffinity, and J.S. Hawthorne, who can be found in “The Heavens Within Our Grasp” and other works from the Furry Historical Fiction Society.

Read by Rob MacWolf, Werewolf Hitchhiker, BP Rugger, the Ineffable Moo-Moon, and Yuugenshou, Wolf of Wanderlust.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/fireside-meeting-at-the-cumuliform-arches-by-friends-of-the-fireplace

Transcript
Speaker:


You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

collaborative

Speaker:

piece

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

contributions

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Partvoid,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

doesn’t

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

say

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

themselves,

Speaker:

Pico,

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

hopes

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

write

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

coming

Speaker:

months,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

whose

Speaker:

upcoming

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

FurAffinity,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

J.S.

Speaker:

Hawthorne, who

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

in “The

Speaker:

Heavens

Speaker:

Within

Speaker:

Our

Speaker:

Grasp”

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

works

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Furry

Speaker:

Historical

Speaker:

Fiction

Speaker:

Society.

Read

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

Werewolf

Speaker:

Hitchhiker,

Speaker:

BP

Speaker:

Rugger,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Ineffable

Speaker:

Moo-Moon, and Yuugenshou, wolf

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

wanderlust.

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


“Fireside

Speaker:

Meeting

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Cumuliform

Speaker:

Arches”

"And

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

here

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

shall

Speaker:

meet

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellowship?"

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

young

Speaker:

traveler's

Speaker:

tail

Speaker:

wagged

Speaker:

irrepressibly.
"Your

Speaker:

fellowship

Speaker:

too,

Speaker:

pup,"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

older

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

beside

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

ragged

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

guarded,

Speaker:

corrected. "By

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

you're

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

part

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

whole

Speaker:

business

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

am."

Speaker:

His

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

already

Speaker:

explained

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

many

Speaker:

times.
Above

Speaker:

them,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

arches

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

clouds

Speaker:

themselves.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

no,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

inquiring

Speaker:

traveler

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

learn

Speaker:

upon

Speaker:

closer

Speaker:

inspection,

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

stone,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

milk

Speaker:

white

Speaker:

stone

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

pass.

Speaker:

And a

Speaker:

closer

Speaker:

inspection

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

hardly

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

avoided.
There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

nowhere

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

travel

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

arches.

Speaker:

Each

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

high

Speaker:

that thunderheads

Speaker:

passed

Speaker:

beneath

Speaker:

them,

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

thick

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

entire

Speaker:

mountain

Speaker:

range

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

needed

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

foundation,

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

vast

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

towns

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

cities,

Speaker:

monasteries and

Speaker:

temples,

Speaker:

hermitages

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

palaces

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

built

Speaker:

clinging

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

sides.

Speaker:

Stones

Speaker:

hewn

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

seamless

Speaker:

white

Speaker:

pillars

Speaker:

themselves

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

assembled

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

arcades

Speaker:

along

Speaker:

miles

Speaker:

upon

Speaker:

miles

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

spiral

Speaker:

staircases.
"Yet

Speaker:

goodsir,"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

younger

Speaker:

wolf's

Speaker:

clothes

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

sturdy

Speaker:

enough--tunic

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

breeches,

Speaker:

cloak

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

shoulder,

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

traveling

Speaker:

hat

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

orange

Speaker:

feather

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

brim--but

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

fine

Speaker:

fabric and

Speaker:

bright

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

color. "I

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

long

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

summoning

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

spoke

Speaker:

of,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

learn

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

secrets

Speaker:

myself."

Speaker:

He

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

hardly

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

suited

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

fantastical a

Speaker:

journey

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

sublime

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

landscape.
"It

Speaker:

isn't

Speaker:

secret,"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

older

Speaker:

wolf's

Speaker:

clothes,

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

contrast,

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

shabby

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

without

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

clear

Speaker:

signs

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

years

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

miles

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

wear,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

distinctly

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sort

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

garments

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

monks,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

scholars,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

resident

Speaker:

musicians

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

artisans

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

arches

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

used

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

seeing. "And it's

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

a sending

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

summoning."

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

rare,

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

land,

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

patched

Speaker:

denim

Speaker:

trousers

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

suspenders.
A

Speaker:

cool

Speaker:

wind

Speaker:

brushed

Speaker:

past

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stairs

Speaker:

rounded

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

flying

Speaker:

buttress

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

large

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

top

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

curvature

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

horizon

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

plainly

Speaker:

visible. "It

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

only,"

Speaker:

confessed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

young

Speaker:

adventurer, "that

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

seems

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

distance

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

climb.

Speaker:

Why

Speaker:

should

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

summoning

Speaker:

require

Speaker:

such

Speaker:

heights?"
"Oh,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

don't,"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

older

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

strode

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

center

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

paved

Speaker:

courtyard

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

laying

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

firewood. "I

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

figured

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

you're

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

filled

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

wanderlust

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

claim,

Speaker:

you'd

Speaker:

appreciate

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

view!"
Frustrating

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

doubtless

Speaker:

was,

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

wrong.

Speaker:

From

Speaker:

here

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

whole

Speaker:

structure

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

arches

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

seen.

Speaker:

Vast

Speaker:

gothic

Speaker:

points,

Speaker:

without

Speaker:

roof

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

walls

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

stained glass

Speaker:

window,

Speaker:

built

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

unthinkable

Speaker:

powers

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

primordial

Speaker:

purpose,

Speaker:

followed

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

line

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

mountain

Speaker:

range

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

below

Speaker:

them.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

arches

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

about were

Speaker:

dotted

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

lighted

Speaker:

windows,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

high

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

far

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

even when

Speaker:

clouds

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

racing

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

resembled

Speaker:

stars

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

habitations.
Somewhere

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

there,

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

forest

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

arches,

Speaker:

only a

Speaker:

week

Speaker:

ago,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wanderlust-filled

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

upon

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

lycanthropic

Speaker:

hitchhiker,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

horizons

Speaker:

undreamed

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

promised

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

accompany

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

older

Speaker:

wolf.
There

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

nothing

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

precious

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

horizon

Speaker:

undreamed

Speaker:

of.
But

Speaker:

though

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

one—both

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

arches

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

clouds

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

turning

Speaker:

pink

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

gold

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

sunset

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

earnest—was

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

undreamed-of

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

any a

Speaker:

horizon

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

be,

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

promised.
The

Speaker:

hitchhiker

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

warming

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

pawpads,

Speaker:

now that

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

fire

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

steadily

Speaker:

burning,

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wanderer

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

sat

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

he

Speaker:

asked. "Is

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

begin?"
"Nope," the

Speaker:

hitchhiker

Speaker:

scoffed. "I

Speaker:

already

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

it."
"Yet

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

evening's

Speaker:

fire!"
"Cause

Speaker:

that's

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

Well,

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

of.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

think-a

Speaker:

one,

Speaker:

right?"
"Aye..."

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wanderer

Speaker:

tilted

Speaker:

his

Speaker:

head, "one

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

hear

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

traveler

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

far and

Speaker:

curs'ed

Speaker:

land.

Speaker:

Is

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

more?"
"Just

Speaker:

wait."
Before

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wanderer

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

ask

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

what,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

moon

Speaker:

rose.
It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

piece

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

night

Speaker:

sky

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

cut

Speaker:

out,

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

shape

Speaker:

of a

Speaker:

great

Speaker:

beast,

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

bull

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

bear.

Speaker:

Hind

Speaker:

legs

Speaker:

hooved,

Speaker:

forelegs

Speaker:

clawed,

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

pelt

Speaker:

shifted

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

shone

Speaker:

like a

Speaker:

heat

Speaker:

mirage,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

either

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

multitude

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

strange

Speaker:

stars

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

seen

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

it,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

brought

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

multitude

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

stars

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

seen.
"Who

Speaker:

lights

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

flame

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

our

Speaker:

timeless

Speaker:

pact,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

draws

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

down?!"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

voice,

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ineffable

Speaker:

beast

Speaker:

spoke,

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

orchestra

Speaker:

echoing

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

canyon

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

distant

Speaker:

thunder

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

summer's

Speaker:

night.
The

Speaker:

wanderer

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

awestruck

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

answer.
"Just

Speaker:

me," the

Speaker:

hitchhiker seemed

Speaker:

perfectly

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

ease. "Well,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

pup I

Speaker:

picked

Speaker:

up,

Speaker:

doing

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

whole

Speaker:

archetypal

Speaker:

Hero's

Speaker:

Journey

Speaker:

thing."
"Oh!"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

beast's

Speaker:

tone was

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

jovial, "well,

Speaker:

it's

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

since

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

saw

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

old

Speaker:

gang!

Speaker:

Is he a

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

member?"
"That's

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

him,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

guess," the

Speaker:

hitchhiker

Speaker:

nodded

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

younger

Speaker:

wolf. "Go

Speaker:

on,

Speaker:

tell

Speaker:

him

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

yourself,

Speaker:

then."
"I-"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wanderer

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

moment

Speaker:

unsure

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

that. "Well

Speaker:

met,

Speaker:

oh

Speaker:

creature

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

night

Speaker:

skies.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

hale

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

peaceful

Speaker:

village-"
"Is

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

idyllic?"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

unthinkable

Speaker:

beast

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

politely

Speaker:

interested.
"I

Speaker:

suppose ‘tis."
"Does

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

windmills?"
"Aye,

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

indeed

Speaker:

a-"
"Oh

Speaker:

lovely,

Speaker:

there's

Speaker:

nothing

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

sets

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

scene

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

peaceful

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

idyllic

Speaker:

hamlet

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

windmill."

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

beast

Speaker:

nodded,

Speaker:

satisfied. "Says 'embark

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

quest

Speaker:

here,'

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

know."
"Be

Speaker:

you,"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wanderer

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

cautiously, "the

Speaker:

sort

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

entity

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

must

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

ask

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

name?"
"Well..."

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ineffable

Speaker:

head,

Speaker:

shaggy

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

constellations,

Speaker:

shook

Speaker:

noncommittally, "I’ve

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

objections

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

names,

Speaker:

myself…

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

aren't

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

do,

Speaker:

here.

Speaker:

It's

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

mysterious

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

we're

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

like "the

Speaker:

werewolf

Speaker:

hitchhiker,"

Speaker:

or "the

Speaker:

wolf

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

wanderlust,"

Speaker:

isn't

Speaker:

it?

Speaker:

At

Speaker:

least

Speaker:

while

Speaker:

we're

Speaker:

doing

Speaker:

this!"
"Speaking

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

which,"

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

werewolf

Speaker:

hitchhiker

Speaker:

said, "howbout

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

started?"
"Go

Speaker:

on then,"

Speaker:

the beast settled to

Speaker:

the ground, their hooves behind,

Speaker:

chest and paws

Speaker:

before,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

luminous

Speaker:

nebula

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

curled

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

comfy

Speaker:

pet

Speaker:

bed. "Show

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

kid

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

it's done!"
The

Speaker:

hitchhiker

began:



The

began:

squares

began:

of

began:

soft

began:

orange

began:

light

began:

flick

began:

past as

began:

the

began:

train

began:

hums

began:

through the

began:

tunnel.

began:

Each

began:

one

began:

a

began:

burst

began:

of

began:

illumination

began:

in

began:

our

began:

cramped

began:

cabin,

began:

reflecting

began:

off

began:

the

began:

uncomfortable

began:

plasticky

began:

red

began:

and

began:

blue

began:

seats

began:

and

began:

fake

began:

wood

began:

table.
Each

began:

one

began:

briefly

began:

framing

began:

Cathy’s

began:

sleeping

began:

face

began:

perfectly.
With

began:

a

began:

gentle

began:

whoomp,

began:

the

began:

train

began:

bursts

began:

out

began:

of

began:

the

began:

tunnel

began:

and

began:

into

began:

the

began:

darkness.

began:

The

began:

moon

began:

rising

began:

into

began:

a

began:

cloudless

began:

sky

began:

catches

began:

the

began:

sparse

began:

tips

began:

of

began:

the

began:

wiry

began:

conifers

began:

like

began:

little

began:

drops

began:

of

began:

silver,

began:

just

began:

a

began:

hint

began:

of

began:

the

began:

vast

began:

forest

began:

that

began:

the

began:

train

began:

cuts

began:

through.

began:

I

began:

imagine

began:

the

began:

sprawling

began:

valleys

began:

that

began:

must

began:

lie

began:

outside,

began:

the

began:

slowly

began:

cascading

began:

foothills

began:

that

began:

will

began:

give

began:

way

began:

to the

began:

wide-open

began:

prairies.

began:

I

began:

imagine

began:

a

began:

few

began:

hours

began:

from

began:

now,

began:

when

began:

the

began:

train

began:

slows

began:

into

began:

the

began:

city,

began:

and

began:

Cathy

began:

gets

began:

off.

began:

I

began:

imagine

began:

the

began:

way

began:

she

began:

puts

began:

on

began:

her

began:

rucksack

began:

like

began:

battle

began:

armour, the way

began:

she’ll

began:

jump

began:

off the

began:

last

began:

step

began:

onto

began:

the

began:

platform,

began:

the

began:

way

began:

she’ll

began:

walk

began:

like

began:

someone

began:

who

began:

knows

began:

who

began:

she

began:

is.
I

began:

look

began:

back

began:

at

began:

her.
The

began:

cabin

began:

is

began:

silent

began:

save

began:

the

began:

steady

began:

hum

began:

of

began:

the

began:

train.
I

began:

love

began:

you.

began:

I

began:

want

began:

to

began:

say.
I

began:

love

began:

you.

began:

I

began:

love

began:

you.

began:

I love you.
I’ve

began:

known

began:

you

began:

for

began:

less

began:

than

began:

a

began:

day

began:

and

began:

I

began:

love

began:

you.
I

began:

look

began:

down

began:

at

began:

my

began:

feet.

began:

She’s

began:

sprawled

began:

out,

began:

her

began:

unlaced

began:

boots

began:

nearly

began:

touching

began:

mine.
I

began:

have

began:

to

began:

say

began:

something.

began:

I

began:

want

began:

to

began:

reach

began:

out

began:

and

began:

shake

began:

her

began:

awake.

began:

I

began:

can’t

began:

let

began:

her

began:

leave

began:

without

began:

knowing.
And

began:

I

began:

think

began:

about

began:

how

began:

she

began:

said

began:

she

began:

was

began:

moving

began:

to

began:

be

began:

with

began:

her

began:

mother.

began:

How

began:

she

began:

talked

began:

about

began:

missing

began:

home.

began:

How

began:

she

began:

had

began:

felt

began:

cooped

began:

up,

began:

trapped

began:

behind

began:

the

began:

mountains,

began:

how

began:

she

began:

longed

began:

for

began:

the

began:

freedom

began:

of

began:

clear

began:

skies.
I

began:

want

began:

to

began:

come

began:

with

began:

her,

began:

to

began:

sit

began:

with

began:

her

began:

at

began:

her

began:

mother’s

began:

cabin.

began:

To

began:

see

began:

the

began:

stars

began:

the

began:

way

began:

she

began:

sees

began:

them,

began:

to

began:

hear

began:

songs

began:

the

began:

way

began:

she

began:

hears

began:

them.

began:

To

began:

feel

began:

her

began:

pain,

began:

and

began:

her

began:

belonging,

began:

and

began:

her

began:

joy,

began:

and

began:

her

began:

pride.
I

began:

look

began:

out

began:

the

began:

window

began:

again.

began:

I

began:

feel

began:

my

began:

mouth

began:

open,

began:

and

began:

I

began:

sit

began:

there

began:

a

began:

moment,

began:

agape,

began:

like

began:

some

began:

goldfish

began:

in

began:

a

began:

dentist’s

began:

office.

began:

Floating.
Then

began:

I

began:

hear

began:

myself

began:

speak.
“I’m

began:

lost.”
She

began:

doesn’t

began:

stir.
“I

began:

don’t

began:

know

began:

where

began:

I’m

began:

going,

began:

I’m

began:

just…

began:

empty.”
I

began:

feel

began:

pressure

began:

starting

began:

to

began:

rise

began:

behind

began:

my

began:

eyes,

began:

but

began:

I

began:

can’t

began:

stop

began:

myself.
“It’s

began:

like

began:

I’m

began:

aching

began:

for

began:

something,

began:

grieving,

began:

but

began:

I

began:

don’t

began:

know

began:

what

began:

for.

began:

All

began:

the

began:

time

began:

I

began:

keep

began:

looking

began:

for

began:

a

began:

place… a

began:

person…

began:

something that

began:

will

began:

fill

began:

me

began:

up.

began:

Or

began:

explain

began:

why

began:

I need

began:

filling

began:

up.

began:

And

began:

it

began:

just

began:

never

began:

comes.”
I

began:

rub

began:

my

began:

eyes.
“I hear

began:

you

began:

talk

began:

about

began:

your

began:

mother,

began:

about

began:

home, and

began:

it

began:

makes

began:

me

began:

want

began:

to

began:

be

began:

you.

began:

Am I

began:

broken?

began:

Am

began:

I

began:

just

began:

always

began:

going

began:

to

began:

want

began:

to

began:

be

began:

someone

began:

else?”
I

began:

look

began:

at

began:

her

began:

sleeping

began:

face.

began:

Her

began:

perfect,

began:

perfect

began:

face.
“Is

began:

this

began:

love?

began:

Am

began:

I in

began:

love

began:

with

began:

you,

began:

really,

began:

or

began:

am

began:

I

began:

just…

began:

hungry.

began:

For

began:

something

began:

else.”
The

began:

trees

began:

outside

began:

fall

began:

away

began:

as

began:

the

began:

train

began:

passes

began:

over

began:

a

began:

bridge,

began:

the

began:

moon

began:

held

began:

perfectly

began:

by

began:

the

began:

valley as it

began:

glints

began:

off

began:

the

began:

stream

began:

below

began:

for

began:

a

began:

second

began:

before

began:

we

began:

plunge

began:

into

began:

the

began:

forest

began:

again.
I

began:

glance

began:

at my watch. 3:45. I should probably

began:

try

began:

and

began:

sleep

began:

too.

began:

I

began:

try

began:

and

began:

get

began:

comfortable

began:

against

began:

the

began:

padded

began:

sides

began:

of

began:

the

began:

chair,

began:

balling

began:

up

began:

my

began:

cardigan

began:

as

began:

a

began:

makeshift

began:

pillow.

began:

I

began:

close

began:

my

began:

eyes,

began:

listening

began:

to

began:

the

began:

hums

began:

and

began:

occasional

began:

thumps

began:

of

began:

the

began:

train.
“You

began:

ask

began:

too

began:

many

began:

questions,”

began:

Cathy

began:

says,

began:

her

began:

voice

began:

quiet

began:

but firm.
We

began:

pull

began:

into

began:

the

began:

station

began:

after

began:

breakfast.

began:

Overpriced

began:

and

began:

poorly

began:

made,

began:

as

began:

always

began:

from

began:

the

began:

dining

began:

cars,

began:

but

began:

Cathy insisted

began:

she

began:

pay

began:

for

began:

the

began:

both

began:

of

began:

us.
As

began:

she

began:

waits

began:

by

began:

the

began:

door

began:

of

began:

our

began:

cabin

began:

for

began:

the

began:

queue

began:

of

began:

weary

began:

passengers

began:

to

began:

clear,

began:

she

began:

turns

began:

around.

began:

I

began:

try

began:

not

began:

to

began:

make

began:

eye

began:

contact,

began:

but

began:

I

began:

can

began:

feel

began:

her

began:

warm

began:

eyes

began:

resting

began:

on

began:

me.

began:

Slowly,

began:

I

began:

turn

began:

my

began:

head

began:

to

began:

meet

began:

her

began:

gaze.
She

began:

takes

began:

a

began:

step

began:

forward,

began:

and

began:

suddenly

began:

I am

began:

craning

began:

my

began:

neck

began:

up as

began:

she

began:

gently

began:

places

began:

her

began:

hands

began:

on

began:

my

began:

shoulders.

began:

With

began:

no

began:

resistance,

began:

she

began:

pulls

began:

me

began:

into

began:

a

began:

hug, and

began:

I

began:

feel

began:

her

began:

rest

began:

her

began:

chin

began:

on

began:

my

began:

head.

began:

Her

began:

warmth

began:

encompasses

began:

me,

began:

filling

began:

every

began:

sense

began:

up

began:

and

began:

over

began:

so

began:

that

began:

all

began:

I

began:

am

began:

is

began:

in

began:

her

began:

arms—

began:

and

began:

then

began:

she

began:

pulls

began:

away.
She

began:

gives

began:

a

began:

little

began:

wave. “I’ll

began:

text

began:

you!”

began:

she

began:

says

began:

with

began:

a

began:

grin.

began:

Then

began:

she leaves.
I

began:

watch

began:

the

began:

sky

began:

as

began:

the

began:

train

began:

pulls

began:

away.

"I

began:

know

began:

you

began:

well

began:

enough

began:

to

began:

know,"

began:

the

began:

ineffable

began:

beast

began:

of

began:

the

began:

night

began:

sky's

began:

tone

began:

was

began:

playful, "that

began:

that

began:

wasn't

began:

something

began:

that

began:

happened

began:

to

began:

you.

began:

Who'd

began:

you

began:

steal

began:

that

began:

one

began:

from?"
"Well

began:

now.

began:

That'd

began:

be,"

began:

the

began:

hitchhiker

began:

grinned, "another

began:

story."
"How

began:

are

began:

you

began:

doing,

began:

kid?"

began:

The

began:

beast

began:

turned

began:

their

began:

star-filled

began:

eyes

began:

to

began:

the

began:

wanderer. "Keeping

began:

up?"
"I...

began:

think

began:

so?"

began:

the

began:

younger

began:

wolf,

began:

to

began:

his

began:

credit,

began:

was

began:

only

began:

a

began:

little

began:

intimidated. "The

began:

second

began:

part

began:

of

began:

summoning

began:

you

began:

was

began:

to

began:

bring

began:

a

began:

story

began:

to

began:

the

began:

fire?"
"Well,

began:

not

began:

summoning

began:

me,

began:

per

began:

se,"

began:

the

began:

beast's

began:

chuckle

began:

was

began:

like

began:

the

began:

pounding

began:

of

began:

surf

began:

on

began:

some

began:

distant

began:

planet

began:

where

began:

the

began:

seas

began:

are

began:

liquid

began:

metal, "but

began:

yeah,

began:

trading

began:

stories

began:

is

began:

the

began:

important

began:

bit!

began:

The

began:

fire

began:

is

began:

just...

began:

what's

began:

the

began:

word?"
"...cozy?"

began:

ventured

began:

the

began:

hitchhiker.
"No

began:

no,

began:

it's

began:

like

began:

a

began:

mystic

began:

form

began:

of

began:

remembering,

began:

re-enacting,

began:

where

began:

the

began:

symbol

began:

becomes

began:

the

began:

thing?"

began:

the

began:

beast

began:

waved

began:

an

began:

enormous

began:

paw, "I

began:

want

began:

to

began:

say

began:

it

began:

sounds

began:

like 'anemone?'"
Both

began:

the

began:

wolves

began:

looked

began:

at them with a

began:

wonder

began:

that

began:

had

began:

nothing

began:

to

began:

do

began:

with

began:

their

began:

extraordinary

began:

otherworldly

began:

beauty.
"Maybe

began:

I'll

began:

just

began:

tell

began:

my

began:

story."

“This

began:

is

began:

stupid,”

began:

I

began:

thought. “Is

began:

writing

began:

some

began:

transformation

began:

fantasy

began:

really

began:

the

began:

best

began:

use

began:

of

began:

my

began:

time?

began:

I

began:

feel

began:

like

began:

some

began:

stunted

began:

man-child

began:

who

began:

can’t

began:

handle

began:

the

began:

real

began:

world.”

began:

In

began:

truth,

began:

I’d

began:

thought

began:

a

began:

lot

began:

about

began:

writing

began:

furry

began:

fiction

began:

over

began:

the

began:

preceding

began:

months,

began:

caught between

began:

embarrassment

began:

and

began:

the

began:

desire

began:

to

began:

finally

began:

create

began:

something

began:

after a

began:

lifetime

began:

of

began:

procrastination.

began:

Eventually,

began:

though,

began:

the

began:

latter

began:

prevailed.

began:

I

began:

grabbed

began:

my

began:

laptop,

began:

sat

began:

in

began:

the

began:

living

began:

room

began:

amid

began:

a

began:

few

began:

framed

began:

prints

began:

of

began:

anthropomorphic

began:

deer,

began:

and

began:

opened a

began:

blank

began:

document.

“Who

began:

am

began:

I

began:

fooling with

began:

this

began:

meta bullshit, anyway? Opening

began:

a story

began:

with

began:

a

began:

description

began:

of

began:

my

began:

mindset

began:

while

began:

writing

began:

that

began:

story

began:

seems

began:

insufferably

began:

pretentious. Or worse:

began:

an

began:

admission

began:

of

began:

my

began:

own

began:

insecurities.”

began:

I

began:

drifted

began:

through

began:

many

began:

thoughts

began:

like

began:

these,

began:

plagued

began:

by

began:

the

began:

fear

began:

that

began:

I

began:

was

began:

leaning

began:

into

began:

a

began:

gimmick

began:

or,

began:

true

began:

to

began:

form,

began:

preemptively

began:

bracing

began:

for

began:

any

began:

possible

began:

criticism.

began:

But

began:

I

began:

was

began:

still

began:

writing.

began:

I

began:

hadn’t

began:

written

began:

a

began:

piece

began:

of

began:

fiction

began:

since

began:

middle

began:

school,

began:

back

began:

when

began:

an

began:

X-Men

began:

movie

began:

inspired

began:

the

began:

creation

began:

of

began:

my

began:

own

began:

superhero

began:

with

began:

ice

began:

powers.

began:

In

began:

hindsight,

began:

that

began:

character

began:

was

began:

a method of

began:

exploring

began:

my

began:

own

began:

homosexuality;

began:

was

began:

this

began:

any

began:

different?

began:

Now

began:

I

began:

just

began:

had

began:

the

began:

upside

began:

of

began:

greater

began:

self-awareness.

As

began:

I

began:

struggled

began:

to

began:

hammer

began:

words

began:

out,

began:

my

began:

thoughts

began:

drifted

began:

to

began:

other

began:

formative

began:

films

began:

from my

began:

adolescence,

began:

chief

began:

among

began:

them

began:

the Pixar

began:

short

began:

For

began:

the

began:

Birds.

began:

That

began:

film

began:

centered

began:

on

began:

a

began:

clumsy

began:

shoebill who sought to befriend a group of smaller avians, and ever since

began:

seeing

began:

the

began:

short,

began:

I

began:

saw

began:

much

began:

of

began:

myself

began:

in

began:

that

began:

ungainly

began:

bird.

began:

The

began:

obliviousness,

began:

the

began:

naivete,

began:

the

began:

overriding

began:

tendency

began:

to

began:

assume

began:

the

began:

best

began:

in

others:

others:

all

others:

traits that

others:

resonated

others:

with

others:

a

others:

child

others:

who,

others:

though

others:

never

others:

friendless,

others:

struggled

others:

in

others:

social

others:

situations.

After

others:

writing

others:

that

others:

last

others:

paragraph,

others:

I

others:

paused.

others:

Though

others:

I’d

others:

begun

others:

the

others:

story

others:

with

others:

a

others:

great

others:

deal

others:

of

others:

effort,

others:

mashing

others:

backspace on

others:

my

others:

keyboard

others:

countless

others:

times,

others:

it

others:

was

others:

much

others:

easier

others:

to

others:

describe

others:

that

others:

shoebill.

others:

The

others:

words

others:

came

others:

to

others:

mind

others:

effortlessly,

others:

and

others:

typing

others:

them

others:

felt

others:

physically

others:

different,

others:

too.

others:

Instead

others:

of

others:

attacking

others:

the

others:

keys

others:

with

others:

brute

others:

force,

others:

I

others:

began

others:

treating

others:

them

others:

more

others:

gently,

others:

almost

others:

brushing

others:

them

others:

as

others:

my

others:

fingers

others:

bent

others:

at

others:

new,

others:

odd

others:

angles.

others:

I

others:

always

others:

found

others:

writing

others:

so

others:

difficult–a

others:

constant

others:

struggle

others:

for

others:

perfection–but

others:

not

others:

now. I

others:

felt

others:

like

others:

I

others:

could

others:

write

others:

uninterrupted

others:

for

others:

hours,

others:

freed

others:

from

others:

an

others:

internal

others:

filter

others:

constantly

others:

monitoring

others:

for

others:

anything

others:

too

others:

strange

others:

or

others:

effusive.

Confused,

others:

I

others:

looked

others:

down

others:

at

others:

the

others:

keyboard.

others:

Nothing

others:

seemed

others:

unusual.

others:

But

others:

as

others:

I

others:

moved

others:

to

others:

scratch

others:

my

others:

chin,

others:

I

others:

caught

others:

sight

others:

of

others:

my

others:

right

others:

index

others:

finger

others:

and

others:

gasped.

others:

From

others:

the

others:

first

others:

knuckle

others:

forward,

others:

the

others:

usual

others:

skin

others:

and

others:

keratin

others:

were

others:

gone.

others:

Instead

others:

there lay a

others:

compact

others:

row

others:

of

others:

fibers

others:

that

others:

extended

others:

to

others:

a

others:

softened,

others:

tapered

others:

point. A

others:

frantic

others:

inspection

confirmed:

confirmed:

all

confirmed:

my

confirmed:

normal

confirmed:

fingertips

confirmed:

were

confirmed:

all

confirmed:

gone.

confirmed:

In their

place:

place:

feathers.

place:

I

place:

blanched,

place:

trying

place:

to

place:

imagine

place:

how

place:

I’d

place:

explain

place:

this

place:

to

place:

friends

place:

and

place:

family,

place:

let

place:

alone

place:

what

place:

could

place:

have

place:

caused

place:

me

place:

to

place:

sprout

place:

feathers

place:

in

place:

the

place:

first

place:

place.

place:

But

place:

as

place:

I

place:

recalled

place:

my

place:

sense

place:

of

place:

freedom,

place:

my

place:

panic

place:

abated. “Maybe

place:

this

place:

isn’t

place:

all

place:

bad,”

place:

I mused.

place:

The

place:

corners of

place:

my

place:

mouth

place:

turned

place:

up,

place:

starting

place:

a

place:

smile.

"There

place:

you

place:

go,"

place:

finished

place:

the

place:

night-sky

place:

beast, "lighthearted

place:

and

place:

whimsical,

place:

like

place:

me!"
"If

place:

this

place:

be

place:

meant

place:

to

place:

summon

place:

down

place:

so

place:

glorious

place:

a

place:

being

place:

as

place:

this,"

place:

the

place:

wanderlusting

place:

wolf

place:

stroked

place:

his

place:

chin

place:

thoughtfully, "then

place:

wherefore

place:

needs

place:

it

place:

bring

place:

a

place:

story

place:

as

place:

well?"
"Now

place:

you're

place:

starting

place:

to

place:

get

place:

it,"

place:

the

place:

hitchhiker

place:

grinned

place:

over

place:

the

place:

flames.
"And...

place:

you

place:

were

place:

all

place:

unconcern,"

place:

the

place:

wanderer pointed

place:

an

place:

accusatory

place:

paw, "over

place:

any

place:

need

place:

for

place:

us

place:

to

place:

travel

place:

back

place:

down

place:

from

place:

this

place:

place."
"Maybe

place:

I

place:

was."
"...it

place:

summons

place:

us

place:

too,

place:

then."

place:

The

place:

wanderlusting

place:

wolf

place:

swallowed

place:

as

place:

the

place:

puzzle

place:

pieces

place:

clicked

place:

together. "From

place:

wherever

place:

we

place:

are,

place:

to

place:

here,

place:

and

place:

from

place:

here

place:

to

place:

who

place:

knows

place:

what

place:

unthinkable

place:

horizons."
"It

place:

will,

place:

if-"
"Anamnesis!"

place:

bellowed

place:

the

place:

beast.
They

place:

both

place:

stared.
"That's, uh,

place:

that's

place:

the

place:

word

place:

I

place:

was

place:

looking

place:

for!

place:

Earlier!"
"It

place:

will,

place:

if,"

place:

the

place:

hitchhiker

place:

resumed, "you

place:

go

place:

ahead

place:

and

place:

tell

place:

your

place:

story."
And

place:

so

place:

the

place:

wolf

place:

of

place:

wanderlust

place:

did.

We

place:

slumber,

place:

and

place:

we

place:

dream

place:

of

place:

the

place:

world

place:

outside.

place:

We

place:

await

place:

the

place:

ancient

place:

call,

place:

the

place:

whisper

place:

against

place:

the

place:

stone

place:

of

place:

our

place:

Shores,

place:

the

place:

ripple

place:

in

place:

the

place:

wave

place:

of

place:

our

place:

Waters.
Brother

place:

wakes

place:

first,

place:

sensing

place:

the

place:

frail

place:

mortal

place:

thing

place:

calling

place:

to

place:

us,

place:

the

place:

stone

place:

dagger

place:

in

place:

her

place:

hand.

place:

He

place:

is

place:

the

place:

youngest

place:

and

place:

he

place:

sleeps

place:

the

place:

most

place:

fitfully.

place:

He

place:

flicks

place:

an

place:

elegant

place:

scaled

place:

tail

place:

and

place:

opens

place:

fathomless

place:

eyes

place:

and

place:

whispers

place:

in

place:

the

place:

slumbering

place:

depths.

place:

He

place:

feels

place:

it

place:

rise

place:

and

place:

fall,

place:

feels

place:

the

place:

flick

place:

of

place:

its

place:

offering.
“Blood

place:

on

place:

the

place:

stone.”
Sister

place:

rouses,

place:

keyed to

place:

Brother’s

place:

emotion,

place:

and

place:

her

place:

body

place:

ripples

place:

as

place:

she

place:

uncoils

place:

herself

place:

from

place:

the

place:

ancient

place:

waters.

place:

Her

place:

tongue

place:

flicks

place:

out

place:

to

place:

taste

place:

the

place:

currents.

place:

She,

place:

too,

place:

feels

place:

the

place:

mortal

place:

thing

place:

calling

place:

to

place:

us.

place:

She

place:

is

place:

braver,

place:

bolder

place:

than

place:

Brother,

place:

and

place:

she

place:

darts

place:

upwards

place:

to

place:

ensure

place:

all

place:

is

place:

done

place:

as

place:

we

place:

demanded

place:

it.
She

place:

returns,

place:

her

place:

words

place:

echoing

place:

through

place:

the

place:

cold

place:

and

place:

the

place:

dark.
“Tears

place:

in

place:

the

place:

wave.

place:

Awaken,

place:

Sibling.

place:

We

place:

are

place:

called.”
I

place:

open

place:

one

place:

eye

place:

to

place:

them,

place:

circling

place:

above

place:

me.

place:

They

place:

are

place:

dark

place:

arrows

place:

in

place:

this

place:

depths.
“We

place:

are

place:

called,

place:

Sibling,”

place:

says

place:

Brother. “Arise.”
I

place:

cannot

place:

ignore

place:

the

place:

call,

place:

nor

place:

can

place:

I

place:

ignore

place:

the

place:

young

place:

mortal

place:

who

place:

stands

place:

on

place:

our

place:

shores,

place:

clutching

place:

the

place:

shallow

place:

cut

place:

on

place:

her

place:

palm.

place:

We

place:

swim

place:

upward

place:

and

place:

emerge

place:

from

place:

the

place:

water

place:

as

place:

one,

place:

breaking

place:

through

place:

the

place:

ice

place:

to

place:

tower

place:

over

place:

the

place:

ancient

place:

forest.
The

place:

land

place:

has

place:

grown

place:

cold

place:

in

place:

our

place:

slumber,

place:

and

place:

snow

place:

blankets

place:

ground

place:

and

place:

frozen

place:

waters

place:

both.

place:

The

place:

mortal

place:

thing

place:

trembles

place:

before

place:

us,

place:

though

place:

her

place:

poor

place:

vision

place:

can

place:

see

place:

little

place:

of

place:

our

place:

forms. It is for

place:

the

place:

best,

place:

mortals

place:

are

place:

not

place:

prepared

place:

for

place:

such

place:

as

place:

we.
She is

place:

young,

place:

even

place:

by

place:

mortal

place:

standards,

place:

barely

place:

more

place:

than

place:

a

place:

child.

place:

She

place:

is

place:

a

place:

fox,

place:

and

place:

in

place:

the

place:

light

place:

she

place:

would

place:

have

place:

had

place:

strikingly

place:

red

place:

fur

place:

and

place:

golden

place:

eyes,

place:

but

place:

no

place:

light

place:

reaches

place:

our

place:

shores.

place:

We

place:

do

place:

not

place:

allow

place:

it.

place:

In

place:

the

place:

gloom

place:

she

place:

is

place:

a

place:

ghost.
The

place:

mortal

place:

wears

place:

her

place:

innocence

place:

like

place:

a

place:

shroud,

place:

an

place:

aegis,

place:

but

place:

we

place:

all

place:

taste

place:

the

place:

tear

place:

in

place:

that

place:

shroud,

place:

the

place:

great

place:

wound

place:

in

place:

her

place:

mind

place:

that

place:

threatens

place:

her.

place:

It

place:

calls

place:

to

place:

us

place:

and

place:

called

place:

her

place:

to

place:

us.

place:

Blood

place:

on

place:

the

place:

stone,

place:

tears

place:

in

place:

the

place:

wave.
“We

place:

see

place:

thee,

place:

O

place:

Mortal,”

place:

says

place:

Brother.

place:

He

place:

is

place:

tense,

place:

ready

place:

to

place:

flee,

place:

ready

place:

to

place:

strike. “We

place:

hear

place:

thy

place:

words

place:

on

place:

the

place:

great

place:

banks

place:

of

place:

our Shore.

place:

Wherefore

place:

hast

place:

though

place:

come?”
“Please,

place:

my

place:

village,”

place:

she

place:

cries.

place:

She

place:

cannot

place:

look

place:

up

place:

at

place:

us,

place:

cannot

place:

meet

place:

the

place:

dark

place:

glow

place:

of

place:

our

place:

eyes. It is for

place:

the

place:

best. “I

place:

need,

place:

please,

place:

we

place:

need

place:

help.”
“Yes,”

place:

says

place:

Sister,

place:

darting

place:

forward

place:

even

place:

as

place:

Brother

place:

pulls

place:

away.

place:

Her

place:

eyes

place:

are

place:

fixed

place:

on

place:

a

place:

point

place:

on

place:

the

place:

horizon,

place:

leagues

place:

away. “Mortal

place:

strife,

place:

mortal

place:

woes.

place:

A

place:

great

place:

army

place:

fleeing

place:

a

place:

calamity

place:

of

place:

wind

place:

and

place:

ice,

place:

crushing

place:

all

place:

before

place:

it,

place:

whether

place:

stand

place:

or

place:

flee.”
I,

place:

too,

place:

see

place:

it.

place:

The

place:

devastation,

place:

the

place:

village

place:

overturned,

place:

its

place:

occupants

place:

destroyed

place:

to

place:

make

place:

room

place:

for

place:

the

place:

conquerors.

place:

And

place:

from

place:

it,

place:

a

place:

single

place:

trail

place:

of

place:

bloody

place:

pawprints, a lone

place:

child

place:

fleeing,

place:

clutching

place:

the

place:

stone

place:

dagger.
“What

place:

wouldst

place:

thou

place:

ask

place:

of

place:

us?”

place:

asks

place:

Brother. “Thy

place:

travails

place:

mattereth

place:

not

place:

to

place:

such

place:

as

place:

we. The

place:

fleeting

place:

life

place:

of

place:

mortals

place:

be

place:

but

place:

a

place:

paltry

place:

thing

place:

indeed

place:

to

place:

we

place:

who

place:

ages

place:

see.”
“My

place:

friends,

place:

my

place:

family,”

place:

says

place:

the

place:

mortal,

place:

struggling

place:

to

place:

hold

place:

back

place:

the

place:

sobs

place:

that

place:

threatened

place:

to

place:

choke

place:

her.

place:

Good.

place:

Her

place:

voice

place:

keeps

place:

us

place:

spellbound.

place:

Should

place:

she

place:

falter,

place:

all

place:

that

place:

remained

place:

of

place:

her

place:

village

place:

would

place:

perish

place:

with

place:

her. “I

place:

need

place:

you

place:

to

place:

save

place:

them.”
“O

place:

Child,

place:

does

place:

though

place:

believe

place:

truly

place:

that

place:

succor

place:

could

place:

come?”

place:

asks

place:

Sister.

place:

Her

place:

voice

place:

is

place:

as

place:

kind

place:

as

place:

she

place:

is

place:

cruel. “Thy

place:

enemies

place:

hath

place:

crushed

place:

all.

place:

Thou

place:

and

place:

thou

place:

alone

place:

remainest

place:

to

place:

carry

place:

the

place:

legacy

place:

of

place:

thy

place:

people.

place:

No

place:

aid

place:

may

place:

we

place:

render

place:

thee.”
The

place:

mortal

place:

opens

place:

her

place:

mouth

place:

to

place:

speak,

place:

but

place:

no

place:

words

place:

come

place:

out.

place:

Finally,

place:

she

place:

shudders

place:

and

place:

collapses

place:

to

place:

her

place:

knees

place:

in

place:

the

place:

snow,

place:

wailing

place:

into

place:

her

place:

hands.
I

place:

glide

place:

forward

place:

on

place:

endless

place:

platinum

place:

scales.

place:

She

place:

is

place:

forfeit,

place:

a

place:

prize

place:

to

place:

the

place:

powers

place:

she

place:

summoned

place:

but

place:

could

place:

not

place:

control

place:

or

place:

persuade.
Still.

place:

Innocence

place:

clings

place:

to

place:

her

place:

like

place:

a

place:

shroud.

place:

An

place:

aegis.
I

place:

am

place:

as

place:

pitiless

place:

as

place:

Brother,

place:

but

place:

I

place:

show

place:

her

place:

pity.

place:

I

place:

am

place:

as

place:

merciless

place:

as

place:

Sister,

place:

but

place:

I

place:

offer

place:

her

place:

mercy.
“Harken

place:

unto

place:

me,

place:

O

place:

Mortal

place:

Child,”

place:

I

place:

say. “Thou

place:

hath

place:

stepped

place:

into

place:

a

place:

world

place:

of

place:

which

place:

thy

place:

knowest

place:

but

place:

little.

place:

Thou

place:

hath

place:

transgressed

place:

against

place:

such

place:

as

place:

we,

place:

who

place:

are

place:

of

place:

the

place:

depths

place:

and

place:

the

place:

darkness.

place:

But

place:

thy

place:

pleas hath

place:

not

place:

failed

place:

to

place:

reach

place:

our

place:

hearts,

place:

such

place:

as

place:

we

place:

have.
“Once,

place:

and

place:

once

place:

only,

place:

I

place:

offer

place:

thee

place:

safe

place:

passage

place:

from

place:

our

place:

shores,

place:

back

place:

to

place:

the

place:

worlds

place:

of

place:

mortals,

place:

to

place:

make

place:

such

place:

fortune

place:

as

place:

thou

place:

art

place:

able.

place:

Withdraw,

place:

and

place:

trusteth

place:

in

place:

the

place:

gods.”
Still

place:

crying,

place:

the

place:

mortal

place:

lowers

place:

her

place:

hands,

place:

balling

place:

them

place:

into

place:

tiny

place:

fists.

place:

She

place:

raises

place:

her

place:

head

place:

and

place:

looks

place:

me

place:

in

place:

the

place:

eye,

place:

capturing

place:

my

place:

pitiless,

place:

merciless

place:

glare

place:

without

place:

flinching.
“I

place:

will

place:

not,”

place:

she

place:

says. “If

place:

you

place:

can’t

place:

save

place:

my

place:

home,

place:

then

place:

I

place:

demand

place:

the

place:

destruction

place:

of

place:

those

place:

who

place:

took

place:

it

place:

from

place:

me.”
I

place:

can

place:

see

place:

into

place:

her

place:

depths.

place:

See

place:

the

place:

anger

place:

that

place:

has

place:

taken

place:

root

place:

in

place:

her

place:

soul.

place:

No

place:

happiness

place:

awaits

place:

her

place:

in

place:

the

place:

mortal

place:

world.

place:

Only

place:

wraiths

place:

await

place:

her

place:

there.
“We

place:

cannot

place:

give

place:

thee

place:

salvation,”

place:

says

place:

Brother.
“We

place:

cannot

place:

grant

place:

thee

place:

retribution,”

place:

says

place:

Sister.
“But,”

place:

I

place:

say, “it

place:

is

place:

within

place:

our

place:

power

place:

to

place:

bestow

place:

upon

place:

thee

place:

the

place:

power

place:

to

place:

take

place:

for

place:

thyself

place:

what

place:

thou

place:

wilt.”
She

place:

is

place:

rapt,

place:

drowning

place:

in

place:

my

place:

eyes

place:

as

place:

surely

place:

as

place:

she

place:

would

place:

drown

place:

in

place:

my

place:

waters.

place:

I

place:

reach

place:

out

place:

and

place:

tug

place:

at

place:

that

place:

shroud

place:

of

place:

innocence

place:

and

place:

feel

place:

it

place:

slip

place:

ever

place:

so

place:

slightly.
“What

place:

do

place:

I

place:

have

place:

to

place:

do?”

place:

she

place:

whispers,

place:

and

place:

she

place:

is

place:

ours.
“An

place:

exchange,”

place:

says

place:

Sister,

place:

slithering

place:

to

place:

us.
“Thy

place:

power

place:

for

place:

ours,”

place:

says

place:

Brother,

place:

drawing

place:

close.

place:

Together,

place:

we

place:

draw

place:

the

place:

aegis

place:

of

place:

her

place:

innocence

place:

away,

place:

as

place:

one

place:

might

place:

help

place:

a

place:

moth

place:

shed

place:

a

place:

cocoon.

place:

In

place:

our

place:

claws,

place:

it

place:

is

place:

ephemeral

place:

as

place:

snow,

place:

permanent

place:

as

place:

stone.

place:

A fine

place:

trophy

place:

for

place:

our

place:

collection.
And

place:

then

place:

we

place:

reshape

place:

her.

place:

We

place:

draw

place:

the

place:

red

place:

from

place:

her

place:

fur,

place:

leaving

place:

her

place:

gray

place:

and

place:

colorless,

place:

a

place:

shadow

place:

in

place:

the

place:

snow,

place:

unseen

place:

by

place:

her

place:

enemies.

place:

We

place:

fashion

place:

claws

place:

out

place:

of

place:

her

place:

delicate

place:

fingers

place:

and

place:

the

place:

stone

place:

dagger.

place:

Her

place:

smile

place:

we

place:

turn

place:

into

place:

a

place:

snarl,

place:

drawing

place:

her

place:

teeth

place:

out

place:

to

place:

rip

place:

her

place:

foes.

place:

We

place:

add

place:

muscle

place:

on

place:

muscle,

place:

reinforce

place:

bone

place:

and

place:

fur,

place:

give

place:

her

place:

weight

place:

and

place:

height.

place:

In

place:

her

place:

golden

place:

eyes

place:

we

place:

set

place:

the

place:

treacherous

place:

forest

place:

lights

place:

that

place:

lure

place:

travelers

place:

to

place:

their

place:

doom.

place:

In

place:

her

place:

breath

place:

we

place:

set

place:

the

place:

howling

place:

northern

place:

winds

place:

that

place:

freeze

place:

the

place:

lost.
And

place:

when

place:

we

place:

are

place:

finished,

place:

we

place:

show

place:

her

place:

the

place:

way

place:

from

place:

our

place:

Shores

place:

back

place:

to

place:

her

place:

village,

place:

to

place:

her

place:

Forest.

place:

The

place:

choice

place:

is

place:

hers

place:

now,

place:

of

place:

salvation

place:

or

place:

retribution.

place:

We

place:

know

place:

which

place:

she

place:

shall

place:

choose.
I

place:

return

place:

to

place:

my

place:

slumber

place:

first.

place:

I

place:

am

place:

eldest

place:

and

place:

the

place:

mortals

place:

tax

place:

me

place:

most.

place:

I

place:

return

place:

to

place:

my

place:

slumber

place:

and

place:

I

place:

dream.
Sister

place:

joins

place:

me

place:

shortly

place:

thereafter,

place:

once

place:

the

place:

tears

place:

have

place:

dissolved

place:

in

place:

our

place:

waters

place:

and

place:

the

place:

scent

place:

of

place:

mortals

place:

no

place:

longer

place:

fills

place:

our

place:

home.
Brother

place:

stays

place:

above,

place:

watching,

place:

seeing

place:

the

place:

result

place:

of

place:

the

place:

child’s

place:

choices.

place:

He

place:

watches

place:

until

place:

the

place:

village

place:

is

place:

forgotten

place:

and

place:

all

place:

that

place:

remains

place:

in

place:

a

place:

haunted

place:

forest,

place:

a

place:

place

place:

where

place:

mortals

place:

tempt

place:

the

place:

wrath

place:

of

place:

a

place:

ghost

place:

fox

place:

with

place:

golden

place:

eyes,

place:

whose

place:

breath

place:

burns

place:

like

place:

ice.

place:

He

place:

is

place:

fitful

place:

as

place:

he

place:

watches,

place:

but

place:

with

place:

time

place:

and

place:

the

place:

turning

place:

seasons,

place:

the

place:

blood

place:

washes

place:

from

place:

the

place:

stones

place:

and

place:

he

place:

returns

place:

to

place:

us.
We

place:

slumber,

place:

and

place:

we

place:

dream.
The

place:

sun

place:

had

place:

properly

place:

set,

place:

by

place:

the

place:

time

place:

he

place:

finished.

place:

Below,

place:

the

place:

clouds

place:

were

place:

lit

place:

with

place:

moonlight,

place:

and

place:

beyond

place:

those the

place:

lamps

place:

of

place:

the

place:

arcades,

place:

palaces,

place:

monasteries

place:

and

place:

temples

place:

built

place:

up

place:

the

place:

sides

place:

of

place:

all

place:

the

place:

other

place:

pillars

place:

lit

place:

them

place:

like

place:

christmas

place:

lights

place:

wrapped

place:

upwards

place:

around

place:

a

place:

tree

place:

trunk.
It

place:

was,

place:

as

place:

he

place:

had

place:

been

place:

promised,

place:

a

place:

landscape

place:

of

place:

fantastic

place:

beauty

place:

and

place:

unthinkable

place:

wonder. "Where

place:

now,"

place:

and

place:

yet

place:

his

place:

wanderlust

place:

burned

place:

only

place:

the

place:

brighter, "are

place:

next

place:

we

place:

bound?"
"Probably

place:

the

place:

next

place:

fire,"

place:

the

place:

beast

place:

of

place:

the

place:

night

place:

skies

place:

rose

place:

to

place:

their

place:

feet,

place:

and

place:

spread

place:

mighty

place:

wings

place:

which

place:

up

place:

till

place:

now

place:

they

place:

had

place:

not

place:

seemed

place:

to

place:

have, "wherever

place:

and

place:

whenever

place:

someone's

place:

got

place:

stories

place:

to

place:

share."
"So

place:

we

place:

merely...

place:

go?"

place:

the

place:

young

place:

wolf

place:

asked.
"When

place:

we

place:

get

place:

up,

place:

yeah,"

place:

the hitchhiker

place:

answered.
"Like this!" the

place:

beast reared

place:

on

place:

their

place:

hind

place:

legs,

place:

rampant

place:

like a

place:

coat

place:

of

place:

arms

place:

or

place:

as

place:

if

place:

to

place:

dance

place:

upon

place:

the

place:

water's surface,

place:

and

place:

the

place:

wanderer

place:

might

place:

have

place:

feared

place:

the

place:

collapse

place:

of

place:

the

place:

courtyard

place:

where

place:

they

place:

stood

place:

were

place:

it

place:

not

place:

that

place:

the

place:

beast

place:

was

place:

already

place:

rising

place:

into

place:

the

place:

sky, "See

place:

you

place:

guys

place:

around!"

place:

till

place:

the

place:

stars

place:

of

place:

their

place:

body

place:

could

place:

no

place:

longer

place:

be

place:

distinguished

place:

from

place:

those

place:

of

place:

the

place:

night.
"But

place:

what

place:

if,"

place:

said

place:

the

place:

younger

place:

wolf,

place:

to

place:

the

place:

older, "I

place:

am

place:

summoned

place:

not

place:

to

place:

the

place:

same

place:

fireside

place:

as

place:

you?"
"I

place:

guess

place:

you'll

place:

have

place:

to

place:

travel

place:

with

place:

someone

place:

else,"

place:

the

place:

hitchhiker

place:

shrugged. "Probly

place:

good

place:

for

place:

you.

place:

Shouldn’t

place:

be

place:

listening

place:

to

place:

the

place:

likes

place:

of

place:

me

place:

all

place:

the

place:

time,

place:

you

place:

know?"

place:

And

place:

then

place:

he

place:

too

place:

was

place:

gone.
The

place:

wolf

place:

of

place:

wanderlust

place:

got

place:

to

place:

his

place:

feet.

place:

He

place:

pulled

place:

on

place:

his

place:

hat,

place:

adjusted

place:

the

place:

orange

place:

feather,

place:

and

place:

took

place:

a

place:

last

place:

look

place:

down

place:

at

place:

the

place:

breathtaking

place:

atmospheric

place:

depths,

place:

the

place:

night-dim

place:

landscape

place:

below,

place:

the

place:

vast

place:

majesty

place:

of

place:

the

place:

arches

place:

larger

place:

than

place:

mountains

place:

and

place:

higher

place:

than

place:

clouds.
"This

place:

will

place:

be

place:

a sight

place:

difficult

place:

to

place:

surpass,"

place:

he

place:

said

place:

to

place:

himself,

place:

for

place:

no

place:

one

place:

else

place:

was

place:

there. "And

place:

yet..."
Perhaps

place:

someone,

place:

at

place:

a

place:

window

place:

across

place:

the

place:

arch,

place:

would

place:

see

place:

a lone

place:

firelight

place:

in

place:

a

place:

high

place:

courtyard

place:

flicker

place:

and

place:

sputter

place:

out.

place:

They

place:

would

place:

for

place:

certain

place:

be

place:

too

place:

distant

place:

to

place:

see

place:

a

place:

single

place:

wolf

place:

beside

place:

it

place:

vanish.

place:

From

place:

so

place:

far

place:

away,

place:

it

place:

would

place:

be

place:

only

place:

one

place:

more

place:

point

place:

of

place:

light,

place:

impossible

place:

to

place:

distinguish

place:

from

place:

the

place:

lamps

place:

and

place:

lanterns

place:

upon

place:

the

place:

pillars,

place:

or

place:

the

place:

stars

place:

in

place:

the

place:

sky.


This

place:

was “Fireside

place:

Meeting

place:

At

place:

the

place:

Cumuliform

place:

Arches.”

place:

Contributed

place:

stories

place:

were “Train

place:

Bound

place:

for

place:

Nowhere”

place:

by “Partvoid,”

place:

read

place:

by “Rob

place:

MacWolf,

place:

Werewolf

place:

Hitchhiker,” “Fingertips”

place:

by “Pico,”

place:

read

place:

by “BP

place:

Rugger,

place:

the

place:

Ineffable

place:

Moo-Moon,”

place:

and “Salvation

place:

Is

place:

For

place:

The

place:

Innocent”

place:

by “J.S.

place:

Hawthorne,”

place:

read by “Yuugenshou, wolf of wanderlust.” You can find

place:

more

place:

stories

place:

on

place:

the

place:

web

place:

at thevoice.dog,

place:

or

place:

find

place:

the

place:

show

place:

wherever

place:

you

place:

get

place:

your

place:

podcasts.

place:

Thank

place:

you

place:

for

place:

listening

place:

to

place:

The

place:

Voice

place:

of

place:

Dog.

All Episodes Previous Episode

About the Podcast

Show artwork for The Voice of Dog
The Voice of Dog
Furry stories to warm the ol' cockles, read by Rob MacWolf and guests. If you have a story that would suit the show, you can get in touch with @VoiceOfDog@meow.social on Mastodon, @voiceofdog.bsky.social on Blue Sky, or @Theodwulf on Telegram.

Listen for free

About your host

Profile picture for Khaki

Khaki